Apparatus for altering the position of fishway portals



Aug. 9, 1938. e w. SHOEMAKER 2,125,962 APPARATUS FOR ALTERING THE POSITION 0F FISHWAY PORTALS Filed May 25, 1937 Patented Aug. 9,1938

APPARATI JS 'Fon-ALTERrNG THE POSITION F FISHWAY PORTALS Glen w. Shoemaken-Portland,Orega; assignorto" the Governinentofthe United States of America, represented by the Secretary of War.

(Grantednnder the act of March a, 1ssa as amended-April 30. 1928; 370 G. 757) This-invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to fish locks of the type illustrated in the application filed June 2, 1937, by Harlan B. Holmes, Henry Blood and Milo C. Bell, and entitled Method and apparatus for transferring migratory fish over a dam structure, and more especially this invention is directed to an apparatus for altering the positions of fishway portals, and their closures.

One object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the character specified wherein the entrance and exit openings of afish lock may be vertically adjusted in accordance with variations in tailrace and forebay elevations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the type designated wherein the entrance and exit openings of a fish lock and the closure members for such openings may be vertically adjusted in accordance with variations in tailrace and forebay elevations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described wherein the entrance and exit portals of a fish lock are provided with segmental barriers, the segments being relatively adjustable to form openings in the barriers at various elevations, said openings being adapted to be covered by vertically adjustable closure members.

With these and other objects in View, this invention consists in certain novel details, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, to

be more particularly hereinafter described in claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which corresponding parts are indicated by similar reference characters-- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectionized detail of a dam construction illustrating the segmental barriers in the entrance and exit portals of a fish lock and showing the adjustment of the barriers to form entrance and exit openings for the fish and the arrangement of the closure members adapted to cooperate with the openings, the closure member for theentrance opening. being shown in its closed position and the closure member for the exit openings being shown in its open position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail of two of the segments of the segmental barrier, and illustrating the arrangement of the walls in the segments and the hooking device adapted to operate in said wells.

7 In the illustrated embodiment characterizing Q this invention, there is shown a dam construction (l), a lock (2) formed with downstream and upstream walls (3) and (A), the downstream wall being provided with an entrance portal (5), the upstream wall with an exit portal (6) Lock (2) communicates with an entrance bay (1) through the entrance portal (5) while the exit portal (6) opens into a forebay (8), as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

Positioned within the entrance and exit portals (5) and (E) are segmental barriers (9) and (9'), as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. These barriers are each composed of superimposed segments (H3) and Ill) which are slidably mounted at their extremities in oppositely disposed vertically arranged guides (l I) and H1) formed respectively in the side walls of entrance and exit portals (5) and (6). Each of the segments (9) and (9') is formed with a central well (l2) and these wells co -act to form a centrally located vertically disposed channel (l2) extending throughout the length of the barrier for the passage of a hooking device (I3), as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Hooking device ([3) is provided with pivotally mounted claws (l4) normally in an inoperative position, but which when raised to their operative position are adapted to engage shoulders (l4') provided by recesses ([5) formed in the opposite walls of each of the aligning wells (l2) as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Each of the barriers in the entrance and exit portals (5) and (6) of the lock is provided with a hookingdevice (l3) and these devices are operated by cables 3 (l6) and (IB) which pass over pulleys (I'!) and (IT) to suitably operated mechanisms (not shown).

According to the structure just defined, it will be manifest that when a hooking device (l3) has been lowered through the channel (l2) to a predetermined segment and the claws of the hooking device raised to operative position to engage the opposite shoulders (M) in the selected segment, the latter and all of the segments above it may be raised to a height to provide. the required entrance or exit opening for the passage of the fish into or out of the lock, as will be readily understood without further discussion.

It will thus be seen that by relatively adjusting the segments the entrance and exit openings between the interior of the lock and the entrance bay and the forebay, respectively, may be vertically adjusted in accordance with the level of the water in the two bays, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. In order to close the entrance and exit openings formed by relatively adjusted segments of the segmental barriers, closure members (I 8) and I (I8) are slidably mounted immediately adjacent each of the barriers (9) and (9) as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. These closure members (l8) and (I8) are slidable in suitable grooves (l9) and U9), arranged in the side walls of entrance and exit portals (5) and (6) and are operated by cables (20) and (20), adapted to pass over pulleys (2|) and (2l) to a suitably operated mechanism (not shown).

In conclusion, it will be apparent this invention provides in connection with the entrance and exit portals of fish locks, segmental barriers, the units of which are relatively adjustable to provide entrance and exit openings for any required entrance bay and forebay elevation, and it also provides a slidable closure which may be operated to open and close the entrance and exit openings at any of their adjusted positions.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a lock having a portal obstructed by a segmental barrier, means in connection with the segments of the barrier to effect their relative adjustment and to provide an opening at various elevations and additional means in connection with the barrier to close the opening in any of its positions.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a lock having a portal obstructed by a segmental barrier, means in connection with the segments of the barrier to effect their relative adjustment to provide an opening at various elevations, and additional means in connection with the barrier to close the opening in any of its positions, said additional means including a closure member slidable over one face of the barrier and operating means for said member.

GLEN W. SI-IOEMAKER. 

